Rock drill



E. G. GARTlN June '6, 1944.

ROCK DRILL Filed Sept. 19, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 w z 0 ,2 fir 2e In? 7 C y 0 y 2 &

June 6, 1944. a. GARTIN 2,350,659

ROCK DRILL Filed Sept. 19, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 u 'lm a 3'9 173" .10.

Patented June 6, 1944 UNITED ROCK DRILL Elmer G. Gartin, Claremont, N. H., asslgnor to Sullivan Machinery Company, a corporation of Massachusetts Application September 19, 1941, Serial No. 411,524

18 Claims.

This invention relates to rock drills, and more particularly to improvements in a drill steel guide for a hammer rock drill.

An object of the present invention is to. provide an improved drill steel guide. Another object is to provide an improved drill steel guide having novel means for locking the guiding elements thereof in guiding position, and wherein the locking means is releasable by engagement of the drill hammer motor therewith. A further object is toprovide an improved drill steel guide of the pivoted arm type having improved pivotal mounting means for the guide arms and improved locking means individual to each arm whereby the arms may be locked separately or both arms may be locked concurrently in guiding relation with a drill steel. A still further object is to provide an improved drill steel guidehaving individual locking means for th guiding elements thereof. Yet another object is toprovide a novel mounting structure for the guiding elements ofa drill steel guide. A still further object is to provide novel latching means for the guide arms for locking the latter in steel guiding position and releasable automatically by direct engagement of the drill hammer motor therewith as the latter is fed forwardly along th guideways of its supporting guide. These'and other objects and advantages of the invention will, however, hereinafter more fully appear in th course of the ensuing description and as more particularly pointed out in the appended claims. v In'the accompanying drawings there are shown for purposes of illustration'several forms which the invention may assume in practice.

In these drawings:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a hammer rock drill with which an embodiment of the improved drill steel guide is associated.

and steel guide shown in Fig. 1, parts being shown in vertical section to illustrate details of construction.

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view taken substantially on line 33 of Fig. 2, showing the guide arms in steel guiding position.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, showing the guide arms in their released non-guiding position.

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view taken substantially on line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a detail cross sectional view taken substantially on line 6-6 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is a view in longitudinal vertical section taken substantially on lin 1-1 of Fig. 3.

. Fig. 8 is a fragmentary plan view of a rock drill with which another embodiment of the improved drill steel guide is associated.

Fig. 9 is a side elevational view, with parts shown in vertical section, of the rock drill and steel guide shown in Fig.8. 1

Fig. 10 is a front end elevational view of the rockdrill and steel guide shown in Figs. 8 and 9, with the guide arms in steel guiding position.-

Fig. 11 is a detail cross sectional view taken substantially on line I l-l I of Fig. 9. I

Fig. 12 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on line l2l2 of Fig; 10.

Fig. 13 is a side elevational view similar to Fig. 9, showing still anotherembodiment of the invention.

Fig. 14 is a detailcross sectional view taken substantially on line ll-H of Fig. 13.

Fig. 15 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on line l5l5 of Fig. 13.

In the several illustrative embodiments of the invention the improved drill steel guide is shown associated with a conventional hammer rock drill of the mounted drifter type. However, it will be evident that the improved drill steel guide may be associated with other types of drills if desired.

The hammer rock drill disclosed herein comprises a conventional drill hammer motor I slidably guided on a conventional guide shell 2, the latter adapted to be mountedona conventional drill support. Thehammer motor comprises a motor cylinder 3 containing a reciprocatory hammer piston (not shown) for percussivelyactuating a drill steel 4, the l-atterbeing supported in a. usual chuck within a front chuck housing 5 suitably attached to the front end of the motor cylinder. The hammer motor cylinder has lateral guides 6, 6 slidingly received Within longitudinal guideways I, I of the guide shell. The hammer motor may be fed along theshell vguideways by means of a conventional feed screw engaged with a feed nut carried by the motor cylinder, so that when the screw is rotated the motoris fed longitudinally relative to the shell. Since, as above stated, the rock drill is of a conventional design and is well known to those skilled in the art, further description and illustration thereof are unnecessary.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to '7, inclusive, the improved drill steel guide, generally designated 8, comprises front and rear transverse plates 9 and I!) attached, by bolts ll, herein three in number, to the front end of the guide shell and held in spaced parallel relation by spacing sleeves l Zinterposed between the plates and surrounding the bolts. The rear plate In has an integral bearing boss I3-in which the forward bearing portion I4 of the feed screw is journaled. Pivotally mounted on the spacing sleeves on the upper bolts is a pair of cooperating guide arms I5, I5 having guiding portions I6 appropriately shaped to engage the drill steel. The rear plate I!) is. cut away at I! at its opposite sides so that the lateral guides 6 of the harm mer motor may move forwardly relative to the 7 rear plate when" the guide arms are in their to those skilled in the art. As illustrated, the

hubs of the guide arms IS-arearranged between the front and rear plates, and depending from the arm hubs are armlikelugs I8 to which the tor is fed forwardly along the shell guidcways the front chuck housing 5 engages the projecting rear ends of the locking plungers and shoves the latter forwardly in the arm bores 23 to effect release of the locking portions 28 from the plate slots. When the arm locks are released the torsion spring I9 acts automatically to swing the guide arms. into their wide open non-guiding position shown'in Fig. 4; so that the hammer motor can. move forwardly between the arms without interference therewith. As the arms swing outwardly about their pivots, the locking portions 28 slide over the front surface of the I rear plate so that when the arms are in their wide open position they are frictionally held in such .positionby the action of the coil springs ends of a coiled torsion spring I9 are connected. 1

This torsion spring encircles the spacing sleeve on the lower bolt intermediate the arm pivot axes, in the manner shown,- and the ends oflthe spring are secured to the arm'lugs by pins?!) fitted within openings in the lugs. This torsion spring constantlyurges the'guide arms I5 toward their wide open released position, and when the guide arms are in released position abutment surfaces 2! on the arm lugs engage corresponding surfaces 22 on the rear plate to limit outward swinging movement of the arms. The abutment surfaces on the arms and plate" are held in yielding abutting engagement by thetorsion spring. Formed in the guide arms respectively are bores 23 herein arranged in'parallelism with the arm pivots, and respectively mounted in these bores are reciprocable plunger locks 24. These locks have cylindric body portions ,25. fitted within the arm-bores, and, the locks are .constantly urged toward their rearmostgposition. by coil springs 26 The sidewalls ,of the bores are preferably slotted at 21 fora portion of their length, and the ;oy1indric lo'ck bodies hat edepending lock portions projecting downwardly through 'theseslots, and these locking portions arev received. inlongitudinal slots 29 in the rear plate II] when the locking plungers are in their rearward position, thereby to lock theguide arms in their steel guiding position as shown in Fig. 3. .Engagementof thelocking portions 28 with the sides ofthe arm slotsv 2 1 prevents rotation of the lockingplungers. inthe arm 'bores.. The locking. plungers are maintained against endwise displacement from the arm portions'by engagement of the. locking portions. 28with the rear plate, andas .the armsare swung about their pivots these lockingflportions slide over the front 00 surface of the rear-plate. The springs acting-on the locking plungershold the locking portions in frictionalcontact with the rear plate, sothat the arms are .yi'eldingly held in their wide opennonguiding position. The .cylindric body portions 24 of the locking plungers extend rearwardly from the rear surfaces of the guide arms into a position to be engaged by the front chuck housing 5 of the drill hammer motor, as hereinafter explained.

In the operation of this embodiment of the improved drill steel guidewhen it is desired to start or spot a drill'hole theguide arms may be swung about their pivots into the position shown in Fig. 3 with their guiding portions I6 in engagement with the drill-steel 4, and as the arms are swung together the locking portions 28 of the plunger locks snap withinthe locking slots 26. By the provision of the individual locks for the guide arms the latter may be separately placed inguiding relation with the drill steel, for instance, during spotting of a hole on an in- :clined face wh'en'but asingle arm is sufficient to prevent lateral deflection of the drill steel.

In the embodiment of the inventionshown in F'igs.'8 to 12,'inclusive, the guide arms, their pivotalmountings andthe particular torsion spring :arran'gement are similar to those described above..' In this instance, a latch is pivotally mounted on a pivot pin 36 arranged transversely ofandsupported bythe front plate and has rearwardly projecting locking lugs 31, 31 engageable with locking projections 38 on the guide arms. P-ins l9 are reciprocably guided in bores 40 in the guide arms, and these pins are engageable "with the latch and have their rearward endportions projecting rearwardly from the-guide arms in apositionto be engaged by the front chuck housing of thedrill hammer motor. A spring- '-pi'essed plunger 4| on the front plate frictionally engages the hub of the pivoted latchfto hold the llatter in position. Pins 42 secured to the arms are received within; elongated slots .43 in the pins forlimiting sliding movement of the pins in the arm bores. As. .in the mannerof the embodi- .jment :Qf the invention described above, as the jidrill hammer motor is fed forwardly alongthe 'shel1 guideways the front chuck housing engages the. projecting rear'ends of the pins 39 and shoves :theflatter forwardly in the arm bores to effect r l'relea'se of the latch from the locking projections on thearms; and when the latch is released the torsion spring acts automatically to swing the guide arms into their-wide open non-guiding position, so that the hammer motor can move forwardly between the arms without interference therewith. As in the form of the invention above described, the guide arms may be separately locked in guiding relation with the drill steel so that at times "but a single arm may serve as a 5 uide.

.In the embodiment of the invention shown in -Figs. 13 to 15, inclusive, the guide structureis similar to that shown in Figs. 1 to '7, inclusive. 'In this construction, however, cylinder locking plungers 45 are arranged within bores 46 in the guidearms and .coil springs 41 urge the locking plungers rearwardly. The locking plungers project rearwardly from the rear surfaces of the uide, arms and are notched at 4,8 to receive 29 in the rear plate to lock the" guide arms in projections 49 on the rear plate. Pins 50 secured to the guide arms are received in elongatedslots 5! on the plunger locks for holding the: latter against rotation within the arm bores. Engagement of the rear ends of the plunger looks with t e. rear p ate prevents axial displacement of to each arm, and each including a locking element mounted'on an arm for movement with rethe looks from thearm bores,'and the locks by their frictional contactwitn'the plates hold'the guide arms in their releasednon-guidingposition. As the drill hammer motor is fed forwardly along the shell guides the front chuck housing engages the projecting ends of the looking plungers and shoves the latter rearwardly in the arm bores to release the plungers from the plate projections 49; and, as in the forms of the invention above described, the arms are automatically swung outwardly into their non-guiding position by the torsion spring when the arm locks are released. Likewise as in the forms above described, by the provision of the individual arm locks the guide armsmay be placed either separately or concurrently in guiding relation with the drill steel. a I y p As a result of this invention an improved drill steel guide is providedwhich is. rugged in. construction and relatively simple in design. It will also be evident that bymounting the guide arms in the manner shown and by the provision of the individual locking means for the arms, the

latter may be either separately or concurrently locked in guiding relation with the drill steel.

Further, by the provision of the particular locking arrangement, the guide arms are automatically released from the steel upon engagement of the front chuck housing of the hammer motor with the locking devices. Other uses and advantages of the invention will be clearly apparent to those skilled in the art. 7

While there are in this application specifically described several forms which the invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that these forms of the same are shown for purposes of illustration andthat the invention may be modified and embodied in various other forms without departing from itsspirit or the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a drill steel guide, a support, guiding elements mounted on said support for movement" into and out of steel guiding position, locking means mounted on and movable into locking position relative to said guiding elements and engageable with said support for connecting said,

elements to said support to hold said elements in steel guiding position, said guiding elements being movable separately or concurrently into guiding relation with a drill steel, and said lock- Ii'n'g means servingto hold either or both of said elements in such position.

2. In a drill steel guide, a support, guiding elements mounted on said support 'for movement into and out of steel guiding position, locking means movable relative to said guiding elements 7 for connecting said elements to said support to hold said elements insteel guiding position, said guiding elements being movable separately or concurrently into guiding relation with a drill guiding position. 50

spect thereto into and out of locking position. 4. In a drill steel guide, a support, apair of cooperating guide arms pivotally mounted'on said support for independent movement into and out of steel guiding positionya latch pivotally mounted on said support and 'engageablewith one or both of said arms for locking the-latter in steel guiding position, and latch-release elements, one individual to each arm, mounted on said arms respectively, to move relative thereto for effecting release of said latch from engagement with said arms.

5. In a drill steel guide, a support having locking projections, a pair of cooperating guide arms pivotally mounted on said support for independent movement toward and from one another into and out of steel guiding position, and locking plungers, one individual to each arm, guided on said arms respectively and engageablewith said locking projections of said support for separately locking said arms to said support 6. In a drill steel guide, a support, a pair of cooperating guide arms pivotally mounted on said support for independent movement toward and from one another intoand out of steel guiding position, and locking plungers, one individual to each arm, guided on said arms respectively and having locking lugs receivable in looking slots on said support for separately locking said arms to said support.

7. In a rock drill, a supporting guide along which a drill steel actuator is guided for movement, a support attached to the front-end of said guide, a pair of' guiding elements mounted "separately locking said guiding elements in steel guiding position, said drill steel actuator as it moves forwardly along said guide being engageable with said locking elements to effect movement thereofrelative to said guiding elements to release the latter for movemnt' out of their 8. In a rock drill, a supporting guide along which a drill steel actuator is guided for movement, a support attached to the front end of said guide, a pair of guiding elements mounted on said support for independent movement into and out of steel guiding position, locking devices including locking elements, one individual to each guiding element, guided on said guiding elements respectively, for movement relative thereto and engageable with said support for separately locking said guiding elements in steel guiding position, said drill steel actuator as it moves forwardly along said guide being engageable with i said locking elements to effect movementthereof ing plungers guided onQsaidguiding elements respectively-for movement into and out of lock ing-position, one plunger individual, to each of said guiding elements. 4

10. Ina drill steel guide, a support, a pair-oi cooperatingguide arms pivotally mounted on said support and swing able about their pivots .into and out of steel guiding, position, and means for locking said arms to said support to hold the same in steel guiding position, said locking means including a latch pivotally mounted on said support at the front side thereof and engageable with said guide arms. I

11. In a drill steel guide, a support, a pair of cooperating guide arms 7 pivotally mounted on said support and swingable about their pivots into and out of steel'guidingposition, and means for locking said arms to said support to hold the same in steel guiding position, saidlocking means including a latch pivotally mounted on said support at the front side thereof and engageable with said guide arms, and plungers guided on said arms respectively for effecting'releaseof said latch.

.12. In a drill steel guide, a support,'a pair of cooperating guide arms pivotally mounted on said support and swingable about their pivots into and out of steel guiding position, and locking 'plun'gers guided on said arms respectively and having notches for receiving projections, on said support for locking said arms in steel guiding position to said support.

13. In a drill steel guide, a support, a pair of cooperating guide arms pivotally mounted on said support to swing toward and from one another, and locking plungers, one individual to each arm, mounted on said guide arms respectively, for movement relative thereto and engageable with said support for separately locking said arms in steelguiding position.

r 14. In a rock drill. a supporting guide along which a drill steel actuator is guided for movement, a pair of cooperating guide arms pivotally mounted on said supporting guide, and locking devices including locking elements carried by said arms respectively, and each movable relative to the arm by which it is carried for locking said arms in steel guiding position, said drill steel actuator as it moves forwardly along said guide being engageable with said elements of said ing, engagement with said support, said locking plunger being movable relativeto said arm ,out of locking engagement with said support to free said-arm for swinging movement, and said plunger being swingable with said. arm out of for effecting release by said locking means of the guiding element or elements held thereby including thrust exerting means guided for reciprocatory movement on each of said guiding elements and each operative when moved forwardly a predetermined distance relativeto the guiding element on which it is guided to efiect .release of thelatter for lateral movement out of guiding relation to the drill steel.

1'7. In a drill steel guide, a support, guiding elements mounted on said support for movement into and out of steel guiding position, locking means for connecting said elements to said support, said guiding elements disposable separately or concurrently in guiding relation with a drill steel and said locking means serving to hold either or both of said elements in such relation, said locking means including two pairs of cooperating surfaces, one pair individual to each guiding element, the locking surfaces of each pair having locking engagement along planes substantially parallel to the axis of the drill steel, one surface of each pair being movable laterally with a guiding element and the other surface of each pair being fixed against lateral movement relative to the support, and the surfaces of each pair being engageable in guidingelem'ent-holding relation by relative movement longitudinally of the support in one direction and releasable to free the respective guiding elements by opposite longitudinal relative movement, and means carried by each guiding element and movable relative to it for effecting release between the surfaces which are operative to hold said element.

18. In a drill steel guide, a support, cooperating steel guiding elements'mounted on said support for independent movement into and out of guiding relation with a drill steel to be guided,

and means for. separately or simultaneously locking said steel guiding elements against movement with respect to saidsupport when said guiding elements are insteel guiding position, said locking means including lock actuating elements movably carried by said guiding elements respectively, said lock actuating elements being movable relative to said guiding elements to effect unlocking of said guiding elements to free the latter for movement out of steel guiding position relative to said support.

ELMER G. GARTIN. 

